Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-01
A CONFESSION.
The Murderess Confesses the Horrible
Crime at the Last Moment.


greeted him very warmly. The attendant
was requested TO leave them in seclusion,
but refused 10 do 50. Sheriff Cook was
appealed to. and upon the earnest solici-
tatiOn of DIR. Powell he was allowed to lis
ten to what Mrs. Druse had Ia say. The
latter said: "Mr. Powell, | have sent for
YOU to make a c0niession; will you listen"
"Yes, certainly replied the Doctor,
aud he ut once produced a pencil and
paper.
"What | am about TO say to you has
never Opcn made public before and assure
you on the brink OF the grave, that | am
speaking the truth The world has turned
against me, but know have one friend
left, and that is yOu. Now You must
promise that you will not say word Of
this until am gone, then YOU can publish
it aud let this cruel world know the truth
of the matter. don't want To take anv
more of your time than can help, so will
begin at once. | must take you back be-
fore the murder and tell OF a conversation
with Charles Gates in reference to
the killing of Druse. Itwas about Decem-
Der, |, on a Wednesday night. Druse WAS
away, rs he usually was hlg part of the
time. Gates came in aud asked me If
was alone. Georgia and Frank were out
riding down hill. Mary was up stairs.
Gates then asked me if did not want to
get rid OF DruSe. told him was nearly
dead now, and did not care what happen
ed. He asked me if had the pistol he
gave me yet. 1t was in the house and
4, 4 nd NJ ,lyl .aH
it to him. lie saw it was not loaded in all
the barrels meaning the cylinder cham
berS and he put i'll some more cartridges
and gave it back to me. lie wanted to
know if could fire it and went t0 the
door and pulled it. 1t did not go off for
THE CARTRIDGE WAS No GOOD
put in another and Hill said. "Wcll, you
know how TO do it aud that is enough. "
He then said, "NOw if anything happens
you can depend OH me to help you" With
that he went away He came again on
December 1th, the night before the murder
and told ME TO hurry up and take the first
chance. He said it would not do 10 burn
the headbecause it would leave traces. lie
would take care Of that. lie said lie would
get the buckwheat n the same time and save
amy cause Of suspicion. The next morning
| saw him coming up the road. lust
as DruSe sat down To breakfast. This was
inst after ltr raised the axe To strike me,
and ran into the huttery. lgot the pistol
and came out. lie was sitting down at
the table. lie swOre awlully about the
tea and sugar and | raised the pistol and
shot him in the neck, and only stunned
him. Gates then shot through the window
and he fell to the floor. Gates then shot
again | shot once, Gates shot three or
four times took the axe and
CUT Ills HEAD QEr
and put him up stairs. Ills head was
wrapped in paper and carried Ia the wood
shed. 1t was put in u lot of buckwhcat,
the body was hanged up and none was
given to the pigs. That was not true about
feeding it to the pigs, it was burned
and then buried. Gates came that night
and told him what had happened. He
grasped my hand and said | had done
nobly. He said he would come for
the buckwheat tomorrow morning, which
he did. He took DruSc'S head with him. 1t
was buried one mile from Richards
Springs, where | could find il il chose.
II could never be found for the secret lies
with Gates and alone Charles PETIT
overh, ard us talking aoOut il once. hut he
IS dead DOW and can't talk. Gates is the
only ore who knows anything about il,
There was another man with Gates when
he got the buckwhcat, and it was ElwOOd.
His name was Eli. 1t
TOuE EIGHT HOURs To BrRN THE BODY
and il made all awful smell. nearly
tainted several times. George and Frank
Gates were there some 0i the time.
They did not see much though.
| sent them down TO the wood
lot and.had them carry shingles. killed
Druse because | c0nld net .tand il any
longer. He was brute and had not
slept with him in l. years. That is all ]
can tell. Gates put up Frank tu tell What
he did tell 10 shove II all On lac, Int he
Till get his reward some time"
Now YOU must not tell any one before |
until after j. O'Clock tomorrow. | don't
care who knows it then. | trust TO
You to see that it is all right.
You can say too, that on my
dying day | am more innocent of the
crime than those who put me up TO it. Il
freely forgive them all, all who 50 cruelty
deserted mv. There are some names on
that petition sent from Warren which
could cover with shame, but die in peace
with every one.
After she had finished DR. Powell offered
q ehnrt pro-ar ap1 th.n tnnl- bis leaya
He desired the above Published
DETAILS Of The MURDER.
The crime for which Mrs. Druse suffered
the death penalty was one of the most hOr-
rible in its details ever known in New York
State. There WAS great interest taken in
the trial and the different steps taken in
the higher courts by her counsel to save
her from the galloTs. Mrs. Druse's case
attracted attention throughout the State,
but she received little sympathy from
those who were COnversaDt with the crime.
The murder occurred in an old dInSey
frame house near the village OF Warren, in
Herkimer county. William DTuse was
farmer, 90 years old, aud the members OF
his family were his wife, daughter Mary.
16 years old, q son George, 10 yelFs old,
and Frank Gates. farm hand, lG years Of
age. Druse disappeared from home On
december Is, 1854. The following day
the house was locked 9p, mons o. the ram
iy wGEe seea about, and nom the chimney
OF the house poured forth q dense black
smoke, filling the air around with very
offensive odor. 4 number Of the neigh
bUrs noticed the smoke at the
time and a. the days rolled by and pIrpss's
absence became maniGeS. surnises we're
n,aie rs 10 his whereabouts.
To the people who asked for him Mrs
Druse said that he had gone to New York.
The boy was finally arrested, and from him
a confession was secured duplicating Mrs.
Druse and Mary as the old gentleman's
murlierers. Their arrest followed. On
the trial it was shown that the murder oc-
CURED abont O'Clock in the morning.